Dr. Chris Van Talaken is the author of a new book, Ultra Process People. He says ultra processed foods (UPFs) are to blame for pandemic obesity. The food system must be reorganized from the ground up, he argues. But most important thing is to get the food industry away from it, he adds.
Sliced supermarket bread, ham, cheese, crisps, a fruit-flavoured yoghurt and a fizzy drink. If this sounds like a standard lunch, you’re not alone. The average person in the UK gets more than 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods – otherwise known as ‘industrially produced edible substances’. Madeleine Finlay speaks to Dr Chris van Tulleken about what ultra-processed foods are really made of, how they have become a major part of our diets, and the impact they are having on our health. Help support our independent journalism at
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